Get out the floor supports because here comes "Fat Elvis"! A sweet banana and chocolate chip cake, smeared with peanut butter fudge frosting and topped with a fried banana chip. Could it possibly get any better than this?

Click Here for a link to MSN's full profile on Saint Cupcake and the country's best cupcakes.

You are contemplating buying a fixer that requires a fair amount of surface updating.

The house appears to have good bones, but you and your broker can't see what's going on behind the walls, nor are either of you a licensed and bonded contractor, experienced in the caveats of home renovations. Or maybe you are a homeowner foregoing a new home purchase and looking to add value by remodeling your home to today's standards.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

When buying a fixer and / or considering a major remodeling project interview at least two licensed and bonded contractors experienced in major remodels. Make sure that the contractor you hire attends the professional home inspection for any home you are considering purchasing.

Although a professional home inspector can identify red flags in the structure, it is the general contractor you will need to look to, to provide quotes, advise on items in question and to make you aware of possible caveats associated with what cannot be determined until you get behind the surface i.e., possible repairs, bringing a deficiency to code, the permits required, costs, time frames, etc.

When you narrow-down your renovation contracting partner make sure that you have checked with the proper state licensing board to ensure that there have been no claims filed against him/her, and that the contractor is adequately insured, in the event there are any unforseen issues arising from error or neglect.

And now a warning! Although a guy may come highly recommended by the property's listing broker, he's less expensive than the award-winning contractor your selling broker recommended, he provides you with a plethera of personal attention... and you just feel in your heart that he is a honest and straight-up guy, he can wind-up costing you, and then some, if he miscalculates the project. Avoid making decisions based on "warm fuzzies".

Regardless of how much money you have set aside based on quotes provided to you by professionals, hidden costs can leave you spending much more than you originally anticipated. These hidden costs can come from a variety of places.

When you hire a contractor, that person gives you an estimate of how much it will cost to have a particular job done. But, "sometimes when a contractor begins doing a job, he finds out that there's more work involved than he thought," says Eugene Baldwin, a home-improvement specialist with home-contracting company Amerideck in Clinton, Md.

For example, a roofing contractor might start replacing shingles only to learn that some of the wood beneath the tile is completely decayed and needs to be replaced, as well.

Or a contractor may drill into a wall only to find something behind it that he wasn't anticipating. "If you get into a job and you need another type of equipment and have to go out and rent it, it will cost the customer more, too," says Baldwin.

Or all of the vintage windows seals in the home are deficient. In addition to being large windows, years of water intrusion may have also caused dry rot. That unexpected dry rot will need to be mitigated.

You want more canned lights throughout the home, requiring re-wiring, permits and inspections and one of the hidden costs that many inexperienced handy-men and homeowners don't think about... permit fees. Depending on the type of work you're doing on your home, you may be required to apply for a work permit. For example, a building permit is generally required from local building-inspection authorities for work that changes or adds to the structure of your property. Other permits you may need, depending on the project, are for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. Often, you must pay an application fee in addition to the cost of the permit. Permit costs are generally based on the estimated construction cost of the project.

Anytime a home is remodeled and that update triggers that the element of the home be brought to today's standards, you are moving beyond the financial consideration of a simple surface remodel to the category of a renovation/restoration.

Hidden costs might not be so hidden... if you understand the contract.

The contract should include a description of the project and a list of what's excluded from the price," says Paul Winans, former chairman of the board for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. "It's almost more important to know what's excluded than what's included," he says.

Certain tools and building materials might be excluded, as well as the cost of the products you want to have installed in your home. If there's a repair job in which a contractor is not sure of the extent of the damage, he might find that he needs to repair or replace a larger portion of the home than he originally thought.

Unfortunately, another hidden cost could arise from breaking something and having to fix it.

"If you're renovating your bathroom and you mess it up, you may have water all over the place and you have to pay for them to rip up the wall," says Demian Faunt, senior editor at DoItYourself.com. If this was the contractor's fault, does he had enough money in his budget to cover the repair? And what happens if the contractor so underestimates the extent of your project that he finds he has no profit? Your house is now all ripped apart and your contractor suddenly isn't so available or forth coming about why he no longer shows-up to the job site to supervise his subs? And do the subcontractors exercise their right to file a lien against your property, because the contractor that came so highly recommended by the listing broker...the one that paid you all that personal attention, failed to pay his subcontractors their wages for the past two and a half months?

And what if a contractor's equipment malfunctions and /or is broken during the course of your remodel...who is resposponsible? Was it outlined in his contract?

Costly upgradesSometimes homeowners are directly responsible for unexpected costs. For example, halfway through the task of having your bathroom renovated, you might decide you want to upgrade your tile or choice of shower fixtures. Unless you choose your brands or products before the estimate is completed and stick with them, be aware that your choices will affect the total cost of the project.

Another factor that can cause the price to fluctuate is the cost of building supplies. If the job is one that will take a long period of time, or if you received your estimate several months before the actual work began, there's a chance that the price of supplies used to complete the project will increase. If this happens, your bill may rise accordingly. If your contractor includes the cost of supplies in his estimate, ask him before you sign the contract whether those costs are subject to change.

The best way to prepare for hidden costs is to ask the contractor upfront which costs he expects to rise.

To prepare mentally, you can ask the contractor's references whether the final costs of their projects exceeded the estimates, and by how much. Those references also can tell you what the hidden costs were. If a contractor has a history of estimating too low, you can either find another contractor, or you can anticipate and prepare for a higher final price.

Also, make it clear at the beginning of the project that you want the contractor to let you know the minute he knows the project will cost more than expected so you have time to get your finances ready.

Do-it-yourself duesDo-it-yourselfers aren't immune to hidden costs. They, too, can find themselves paying more for a project than they originally anticipated

Another place a DIYer might underestimate a project is when coming up with all of the supplies and tools needed. Unless the job is one that you've done before, chances are pretty likely that there is a piece of equipment you'll forget to list or there is a tool that might make the job easier. If you're doing a task for the first time, always give your budget some breathing room for supplies you didn't think abou

For that reason, it's important that you be very knowledgeable about a project before attempting to do it yourself.

"Look up how to do the smaller projects that not only are in your budget but your expertise level so you don't have to call and have a contractor come in" to clean up after you, Faunt says.

A home-improvement project can be one of the most rewarding investments you can make. But when coming up with your budget, make sure you include room for the unexpected costs that are likely to arise. That way, you can spend more time enjoying your improvements and less time worrying about how you're going pay for them.

At the end of the day, one needs to factor-in whether it would be more economical to purchase a brand new home vs. renovating an existing home. The only way you will come close to knowing is by asking serious, pointed questions of your contractor, by the contractor doing his homework before he provides the final quote, by you doing your homework, getting everything in writing, having a clear understanding of what is covered and what would be considered a change order, the costs associated with change orders, unknowns, permits, etc.

Approaching the opportunity from a position of "worst case scenario" is always the safer way to go. And lastly don't gamble. If you only have a small spread in terms of cash to work with, than anything beyond a surface remodel with verifiable pricing should not be attempted. No one wants to be house rich, cash poor or worse yet, to be homeless as a result of trying to cash-in on a poorly researched home remodeling endeavor.

The Ray of Hope Foundation was founded in 2003 by Dr. Teresa F. Gipson, a Family Physician with OHSU and over ten years of experience working with vulnerable, underserved populations in the U.S. and abroad.

Click Here for information on how you can support this wonderful local initiative.

BURGER QUEEN, Lakeview, Ore. "These two-fisted burgers are made to order so each one is fresh, piping hot, and tasty," writes Jim Engels of Bend, Ore. "Accompany that with a frosty shake and you’re in hamburger heaven!" (541) 947-3677.

BURGERVILLE, Portland, Ore has 38 locations in northwest Oregon and Washington. "Not only are the burgers great—made with fresh, local products like Tillamook cheese and Oregon beef—but the milkshakes are also incredible," says Elliot McIntire of Eugene. "They feature in-season berries and fruits and are so thick you have to really work to suck them up through the straw." www.burgerville.com.

CALAMITY JANE’S HAMBURGER RESTAURANT, Sandy, Ore. "A fabulous ‘hamburger parlour’ in true Western saloon style," writes Karen Zimmerman of Corvalis. "Although I haven’t eaten every one of the 38 creative hamburgers—like the George Washington, with sour cream and hot cherries—I’ve loved every one I have tried. The City Slicker (1/3 pound) is plenty for me, but they also offer the Wrangler (2/3 pound) and Trail Boss (1 pound), all served in cast iron skillets, with fries. Thumbs way up!" (503) 668-7817.

CHILI'S, Portland, Ore. No list list would be complete without Chili's PepperBacon Burger!

DAILY GRILL, Portland, Ore. "The burger served at lunch time is a hefty half-pounder, while the dinner version is a three-quarter pound behemoth," says Dave Taube of Eugene, Ore. "You won’t leave hungry. Just make sure you have an ample supply of napkins because this burger is juicy!" (503) 224-5061, www.dailygrill.com.

GIANT DRIVE-IN, Lake Oswego, Ore. "It has been serving up dripping, delicious burgers for decades," writes Lois Barnum of Lake Oswego. "Our favorite order is the mushroom and jack cheese concoction that guarantees you have to eat in—it’s too messy for the car!" (503) 636-0255.

HELVETIA TAVERN, Helvetia, Ore. "This former stage coach stop has the relaxed ambiance of an old tavern," says Clair Kuppenbender of Canby, Ore. "The really great burgers are served on platters with loads of fries—a real meal—and on nice days you can enjoy the quiet picnic area in back. One caution: If you wear a cap into the tavern, you run the danger of having it affixed permanently to the ceiling." (503) 647-5286.

HIGGINS RESTAURANT AND BAR, Portland. "Without a doubt, Higgins has the best burger in town," writes Greg McMickle of Portland. "Sirloin is hand-minced and hand-formed at the time of the order, broiled, then served on a toasted rosemary bun. It’s available only from the Bistro menu in the bar." (503) 222-9070, higgins.citysearch.com.

Red Robin, Portland. NitPicky has to throw-in one of her favorites...the Bonzai Burger!

It wouldn't be winter on the coast without the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival. It's the premier seafood & wine event of the west coast and the original Northwest seafood and wine festival.

Since 1978 the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival has attracted visitors from around the world to the central Oregon coast. The 2009 festival promises to be packed with all of the fun, food and wine you've come to know and love at the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival!

Click Here for a link to Newport's Chamber of Commerce and for more information about the event.

Tad's Chicken 'N Dumplings has been offering a warm, comfortable, and inviting dining experience for its guests since the 1920's. Don't let the funky flashing neon sign or the Hoss Cartwright / Bonanza log cabin exterior fool you. That's all part of it's charm! Tad's is a Portland classic. Its' signature Pan Fried Chicken and Dumplings are so light and fluffy you almost need to hold them down with your fork. And their Long Island Ice Teas? They pack a punch...so Tad's will only sell one per person. Cheers!

Nestled on the banks of the Sandy River in Troutdale Oregon, Tad's is just twenty miles east of Portland. Tad's is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

When the velvety petals of our red and pink luxury roses are cloaked by clusters of rich red hypericum berries, you have a stunning Valentine’s Day that’s as romantic and passionate as they come. Several stems of picturesque pink roses encircled by more in deep red arrange effortlessly with red hypericum berries in a red, square glass vase – an offering that more than impresses when presented in an elegant red silk hatbox. Click Here to visit Calyx's online floral boutique.

With housing prices down and mortgage rates low, now is an extremely attractive time to buy residential real estate, but experts are advising home buyers to proceed with caution. The combination of a gloomy outlook for home prices, the continuing financial crisis and a potentially looming historic financial crisis can be frought with risk.